INTERACTIVE: The tea party's impact on elections

The tea party, a loosely-knit series of organizations across the country dedicated to slowing the growth of government, has been a factor in Republican politics since 2010. This year, tea party candidates may find their influence weaker than in recent election cycles.

Tuesday could be the tea party's last big chance to make a splash in the 2014 primaries. In Mississippi, movement favorite State Sen. Chris McDaniel is challenging veteran incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran, and polls suggest the race is close. The tea party's had a rough time recently--its House and Senate candidates lost in North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Idaho.